Target trap



C. R. HOAG April 18, 1961 TARGET TRAP 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 17. 1959 INVENTOR. /47 Uzarlea JZ/focgq BY MW/mm C. R. HOAG TARGET TRAP 2 Sheets$heet 2 April 18, 1961 Filed April 17, 1959 United tates This invention relates, in general, to target traps, and

a tent has particular relation to an improved portable target or entailing other difiiculty in providing the desired firm support which the trap requires in use.

Since a motor vehicle is usually used for transportation to the place where the trap is to be set up, and since the vehicle usually carries a spare wheel and tire, another object of the invention is to provide'a target trap having a supporting frame provided with means for conveniently and firmly mounting the same upon the spare wheel and tire, and more particularly on the hub of the wheel. -Another object is to provide for a target throwing arm, "a supporting frame having a first part associated therewith for seating upon one side of a hub of a spare vehicle wheel adapted to have a spare tire mounted thereon, a second part for seating upon the opposite side of the hub, and a bolt insertable throughthe hub and cooperable with the first and second parts to clamp the hub therebetween and hold the supporting frame firmly onthe hub so that the target throwing means will be positioned above one side of the hub of the wheel when the oppositeside of the wheel is placed on theground."

Another object is to provide a target trap of the character described, having various features of novelty and advantages, and which is particularly characterized by its simplicity in construction, its minimum number of parts, I

its economy. in manufacture, the ease and convenience with which it may be assembled and set up for use and demounted and transported, and its effectiveness in use.

Another object is to provide an improved form of target trap having a target throwing arm, a spring tenshooter, and wherein the main spring for actuating the throwing arm is conveniently adjustable to vary the force imparted to the throwing arm in throwing or propelling the target'from the trap.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it being ice understood that-the invention is limited only within the scope of the appended claims and not to the particular embodiments selected for illustration.

In -the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a target trap embodying thepresent inventionmounted upon a spare vehicle wheel having a tire thereon;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the target trap and supporting frame therefor showing the target throwing arm in the position it' assumes upon completion of the target throwing operation;

Figure 3 is a side view of the target trap and supporting frame therefor viewed from the left and in the direction of the arrow A in Figure 2;

, Figure 4 is a'fragmentary axial sectional view taken substantially along the line 44 of Figure 1; and

Figure 5 is a fragmentary detail section taken along the line 5-5 of Figure 1.

Referring now to the drawings, the target trap, according to the present invention, has a supporting frame 1 of suitable material, preferably steel. The frame 1 has a base 2 and upstanding sides 3 and 4. An upper integral arm 5 is inclined upwardly from the upper end of the side 3 and at the opposite end of the arm .5 the frame 1 is downturned at 6 and then inturned at 7 to the upper end of the side 4.

The inturned portion 7 is substantially parallel with the upper arm 5 and the portion 7 and arm 5 have bosses 8 and 9 welded, or otherwise joined thereto. A shaft or pin 10 extends through registering openings 11' in portion 7 and arm 5, and is rotatably journaled in the bosses 8 and 9. The shaft 10 projects above the upper boss 9 and fixed on this shaft to turn therewith just abovethe boss 9 is collar 11. The collar 11 carries a pin 12 integral therewith or joined thereto. The pin'12 projects radially from the collar 11 and has a downturned latch end 13 for a purpose which will be hereinafter described. 6

A target throwing arm 14 is fixed to turn with the upper end of the shaft 10 and collar 11, for example, by a screw 15 fixed in the arm 14 and screwed through a .washer 16 and into a threaded opening in the collar 11. The screw 15 is eccentrically disposed with respect .to registering openings in the washer 16 and arm 14 and an additional washer 17 on the top of the arm 14. A bolt 18 has a threaded shank passing through the registering openings in the arm 14 and washers 16 and 17 and screwed into a threaded opening in the axis of the collar 11, or the adjacent end of the shaft 10, to secure the arm 14 in place on the top of the collar 11.

The throwing arm 14 is of generally plate-like form so that one or two standard clay pigeons, or other targets, may be placed thereon. One such target 20 is shown on the arm 14 in Figure 1. The arm 14 has along one side thereof an upstanding flange 21 for throwing or propelling the target 20 from the arm 14, as will hereinafter appear. The upstanding flange 21 has an inturned flange 22 along its upper edge. The fiange 22 is preferably covered with a rubber, or rubber-like, or elastomer material at 23 for engagement with the target 20 without injury thereto.

The shaft 10 has a washer 24 adjacent the under side of the frame arm 5, with a cotter pin 25 inserted through the shaft 10 and having its ends bent, cooperating with the washer 24. The shaft 10 also has a crank arm 26 integral with orjoined to the shaft and projecting radially therefrom between the arm 5 and the inturned portion 7 of the frame 1. The inner end of the arm 26 is upturned at 27 and passes freely through an opening in one end of a link 28. A cotter pin 29 is inserted through the upturned end of the arm 26-to prevent upward displacem-ent of the link 28, and has its ends bent to prevent displacement from the arm 26.

One end of a helical mainspring 34) is inserted through an opening in the opposite end of the link 28, and is thus connected to the upstanding end of the crank arm 26 through the link 28. The opposite end of the spring 30 is hookedinto engagement with the hooked inner end 32 of a screw 33 screwed through theside 3 of the frame 1. A nut 34 screwed onto the screw 33' and cooperating with a washer 35 is adapted for locking the screw 33 in any desired adjusted position. Adjustment of the screw 33 by screwing the same through the side 3 adjusts the tension of the spring 30 to vary the force imparted to the throwing arm 14 in throwing, or propelling, the target 20 from the trap.

In use the trap may be transported to any desired place of use in a motor vehicle carrying a spare wheel and tire. When it is desired to set up the trap for use, the base 2, which has a cross bar 38 welded or otherwise joined thereto, is seated upon one side of the hub 39 of the spare vehicle wheel 46 which is shown provided with a pneumatic tire 41. With the base 2 thus seated, the ends of the bar 38 also seat on the side of the hub 39. A second cross bar 42 seats upon the opposite side of the wheel hub 39. A bolt 43 is inserted through registering openings in the cross bars 42 and 38, and base 9, and within the hub 39. A nut 45 screwed onto the upper end of the bolt 43 and cooperating with the cross bar 38 and/or base 2 through a washer 46 clamps the vehicle hub 39 between the cross bar 42 and the base 2 and/or cross bar 38 and holds the trap supporting frame firmly on the wheel hub 39.

When the frame is thus clamped to one side of the spare wheel and the opposite side of the wheel 40 and tire 41 are placed on the ground, the target throwing means on the frame 1 are positioned for use above the adjacent sides of the wheel 44) and tire 41.

The opposite ends of the base 2 and the opposite ends of the cross bar 38 may have apertures 50 through which the frame 1 may be anchored on some other form of mounting or foundation, if desired.

A latch arm 52 extends across the top of the upper arm of the frame 1 and is pivoted to the arm 5 by a bolt 53 for pivotal movement between upright stop pins 54 on the arm 5. The arm 52 at one end has a notch 55 in which the latch end 13 of the pin 12 is adapted to engage to retain the throwing arm 14 in throwing position, and the spring 30 tensioned as shown in Figure l. A handle 56 projects from the opposite end of the latch arm 52 out to position extending from the side 3 of the frame 1 so that the latch arm may be conveniently released by the shooter for throwing or propelling the clay pigeon or other target 20 into the air.

In the operation of the trap when mounted on the spare wheel as shown in Figure 1, and with the throwing arm 14 in released position, as shown in Figure 2, the throwing arm 14 is grasped and swung clockwise from the position shown in Figure 2 to the position shown in Figure 1. As the crank arm 26 turns with the shaft 19, the spring 30 is tensioned. Setting of the throwing arm into throwing position in this manner causes the latch end 13 of the pin 12 to engage the inclined edge 53 of the latch arm 52, camrning this arm clockwise slightly against the tension of a coiled spring 60 connected at one end at 61 to the handle 56 and at its opposite end at 62 to the side 3 of the frame 1. The latch end 13 of the pin 12 thus enters the notch 55 and latches the throwing arm 14 in throwing position as shown in Figure 1.

A single target 20, or a pair of such targets are placed on the throwing arm 14 in peripheral contact with the edging of elastomer-like material 23 along the edge of the flange 22. With the edge of the target 20 in contact with the elastomer-like edging 23 the target is guarded against such impact as might fracture the target.

When it is desired to throw or propel the target into 4 the air, the handle 56 is grasped and swung clockwise from the position in which it is normally retained by the spring 60 shown in Figure 2.' This disengages the latch end 13 of the pin 12 from the notch 55 in the latch arm 52. The tensioned spring 30 is thus released and limits or scope of the invention, reference being had to the appended claims for that purpose.

I claim:

1. In combination, a spare vehicle wheel having a hub provided with a pneumatic tire, clamp means comprising upper and lower clamp members provided with a bolt for drawing said clamp members together to grip said wheel hub therebetween, said upper clamp member having upstanding sides extending upwardly there from from position within the inner periphery of said tire to position above said tire, an inclined arm integral with the upper ends of said upstanding sides and positioned above the wheel when said clamp members are clamped to said hub, and target throwing mechanism on said inclined arm for positioning above one side of said wheel when the opposite side of said wheel is placed on the ground, the relatively large diameter of the tire with respect to the horizontal extent of the inclined arm which supports said target throwing mechanism providing sulficient support for the target throwing mechanism without attaching the wheel to a supporting foundation.

2. The combination according to claim 1, wherein the target throwing mechanism comprises a throwing arm fixed to turn with a shaft rotatably journaled in said inclined arm, and in a portion of one of said upstanding sides turned substantially parallel with said inclined arm.

3. The combination according to claim 1, wherein the target throwing mechanism comprises a throwing arm fixed to turn 'with a shaft rotatably journaled in said inclined arm, and in a portion of one of said upstanding sides turned substantially parallel with said inclined arm, a crank arm joined to said shaft beneath said throwing arm, a retractile coiled spring connected at one end to said crank arm, and an adjustable connection between the opposite end of said spring and the other of said upstanding sides.

4. In a target trap, in combination, a supporting frame having a base and integral upstanding sides at opposite ends of said base, said base constituting an upper clamp member, a lower clamp member, a bolt for drawing said clamp members together to grip therebetween the hub of a spare vehicle wheel having a tire thereon, an inclined arm integral with the upper ends of said upstanding sides and positioned above the wheel when said clamp members are clamped to said hub and the opposite side of said wheel is placed on the ground, the length of the base of said frame constituting the upper clamp member being less than the internal diameter of the tire so that said upstanding sides of said frame will extend upwardly therefrom from position within the inner periphery of the tire, and target throwing mechanism on said inclined arm for positioning above one side of the wheel when the opposite side of the wheel is placed on the ground, the relatively large diameter of the tire with respect to the horizontal extent of the inclined arm which supports said target throwing mechanism providing suflicient support for the target throwing mechanism without attaching the wheel to a supporting structure.

5. A target trap according to claim 4, wherein the target throwing mechanism comprises a throwing arm fixed to turn with a shaft rotatably journaled in said inclined arm, and in a portion of one of said upstanding tion between the opposite end of said spring and the sides turned substantially parallel with said inclined arm. other of said upstanding sides. I

6. A target trap according to claim 4, wherein the target throwing mechanism comprises a throwing arm References Cited in the file of thls Patent fixed to turn with a shaft rotatably journaled in said in- 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS ciined and in portion of (Hie of said upstanding 1 67 57 Lorimer l 19 1932 gf P l g i ti 531d i f g 2,296,728 Mossberg Sept. 22, 1942 a or arm 10m o sai s enea sai arge throwing mechanism, a retractile coiled spring connected OTHER REFERENCES at one end to said crank arm, and an adjustable connec- 10 Popular Mechanics, January 1959, pg. 86 cited. 

